Feb 26 • 13:23 UTC 🇸🇪 Sweden Dagens Nyheter

Simon Campanello: The Bicycle Was Considered to Make Women Infertile, Masculine, and Ugly

The article discusses historical societal fears about women's cycling, likening them to modern concerns over technology's effects, such as 5G.

In the article, Simon Campanello reflects on the antiquated beliefs surrounding the impact of cycling on women during the era of the velocipede's popularity. Historical warnings posited that cycling would lead to 'bicycle face,' deemed to make women appear masculine and ugly, and even result in infertility. These fears reflected deeply ingrained societal notions of femininity and beauty.

Campanello draws parallels between these past apprehensions and today's contemporary anxieties regarding technology, particularly the health effects of 5G towers and Wi-Fi radiation. Both instances showcase how society often projects fears of the unknown onto women, specifically regarding their health and appearance. The narrative illustrates a cyclical pattern where women are disproportionately targeted in discussions of new technologies.

By highlighting these historical and current fears, the article prompts a reflection on how persistent stereotypes continue to influence societal attitudes towards women's health and lifestyle choices. It also raises questions about how much evidence is needed to counteract these fears and the ways in which gender biases manifest in public discourse about health and technology.

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